At a celebration dinner held May 15 during the Santa Fe Symposium® in Albuquerque, NM, Rio Grande announced the winners of the 16th annual Saul Bell Design Award competition. Through rigorous judging, a panel of judges chose first- and second-place winners in each of six competitive categories, as well as in the Emerging Jewelry Artist category for designers 21 years and younger. Prizes, awards and congratulations were presented to each winning designer at the gala dinner. The winning designs, as well as all finalist pieces, are featured online at saulbellaward.com.

The Saul Bell Design Award is a chance for jewelers to reach for greater heights of skill, knowledge and imagination as they conceive and execute a career-defining design. The best jewelers from around the world compete to be recognized for excellence in jewelry design in any of seven categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium® Silver, Metal Clay, Enamel, Hollowware/Art Objects, Alternative Metals/Materials and Emerging Jewelry Artist.

2016 Gold/Platinum Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“The Queen”

Garen GaribianLos Angeles, CA

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Peacock Pin”

Samantha FreemanPhiladelphia, PA

2016 Silver/Argentium® Silver Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Unity”

Seung Jeon PaikSavannah, GA

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Untitled”

Wolfgang VaatzRio Rico, AZ

2016 Metal Clay Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Adore”

Rodica FrunzeNanaimo, BC, Canada

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Memory Interrupted”

Patrik KusekFairfield, CA

2016 Enamel Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“On the Wing”

Debbie SheezelMelbourne, Victoria, Australia

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Orbit #2 Pin/Pendant”

Amy Roper LyonsSummit, NJ

2016 Hollowware/Art Objects Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Mace”

Tom FerreroWindsor, CT

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Symbiotic Relationship”

Sungyeoul LeeSeoul, Republic of Korea

2016 Alternative Metals/Materials Winners

1st Place - $2,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Moonshine”

Zoltan DavidBee Cave, TX

2nd Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Secret Garden Necklace”

Kathleen Nowak TucciAtmore, AL

2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Winners

1st Place - $500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“L’Oiseau de la Nuit”

Justine QuintalCarignan, QC, Canada

2nd Place - $250 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“Monsieur”

Justine B. GagnonRepentigny, QC, Canada

3rd Place - $100 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

“A Gothic Melody”

Jason BaideBozeman, MT, USA

Visit saulbellaward.com for a complete list of finalists or more information about the Saul Bell Design Award competition. Designers interested in more information are invited to call 800-952-6222 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..